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US 8,528,886 B2Granted
Material sheet handling system and processing methods
AssigneeCorning Incorporated
InventorsChester Hann Huei Chang, Michael John Moore, Michael Yoshiya Nishimoto, Chunhe Zhang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatus provide for delivering a controlled supply of gas to at least one aero-mechanical device to impart a gas flow to suspend a material sheet; preventing lateral movement of the material sheet in at least one direction when suspended; and imparting a stream of water, from a side of the material sheet opposite the at least one aero-mechanical device, to cut the material sheet when suspended.
Claims15
An apparatus for processing a material sheet, comprising:
- a base;
- at least one non-contact aero-mechanical device in the base that, when the material sheet is selectively located on the base over the aero-mechanical device, emits a controlled gas flow that imparts a repelling force to the material sheet and suspends the material sheet above the base, whereby the material sheet is spaced from and prevented from contacting the base and the at least one aero-mechanical device during cutting or chamfering of the material sheet;
- at least one set of a plurality of first retaining camps depending from the base in an array surrounding the material sheet that are laterally adjustable to selectively press against opposing peripheral edges of the material sheet selectively located on the base over the aero-mechanical device with a controlled clamping force and prevent movement of the material sheet in at least one direction when suspended and during cutting or chamfering of the material sheet;
- and
- a water jet source that provides a stream, from a side of the material sheet opposite the at least one aero-mechanical device, to cut or chamfer the material sheet when suspended.
2 more elements
An apparatus for processing a material sheet, comprising:
- a base;
- at least one non-contact aero-mechanical device in the base that, when the material sheet is selectively located on the base over the aero-mechanical device, emits a controlled gas flow that imparts a repelling force to the material sheet and suspends the material sheet about the base, whereby the material sheet is spaced from and prevented from contacting the base and the at least one aero-mechanical device during cutting or chamfering of the material sheet;
- a plurality of first retaining clamps depending from the base in an array surrounding the material sheet that are laterally adjustable to selectively press against a first pair of opposing edge portions of the material sheet selectively located on the base over the aero-mechanical device with a controlled clamping force and prevent movement of the material sheet and hold the material sheet in place during cutting or chamfering of the material sheet;
- a water jet source that provides a stream, from a side of the material sheet opposite the at least one aero-mechanical device, to cut off at least one edge portion, other than the first pair of opposing edge portions, of the material sheet selectively located on the base over the aero-mechanical device and held in place by the plurality of first retaining clamps revealing at lest one newly formed edge portion on the cut material sheet;
- and
- further comprising a plurality of second retaining clamps depending from the base in an array at least partially within the array of first retaining clamps, the array of second retaining clamps surrounding the cut material sheet selectively located on the base over the aero-mechanical device and are laterally adjustable to press against a second pair of opposing edge portions of the cut material sheet, that includes the at least one newly formed edge portion of the cut material sheet, with a controlled clamping force to prevent movement of the cut material sheet in at least one direction when suspended and during cutting or chamfering of at least a portion of the first pair of opposing edge portions the cut material sheet.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.